Liquid-vending machine



May 15, 1923.

F. C. BATES LIQUID VENDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wa e, W

Filed Nov. 25 1921 May 15, 1923.

F. c. BATES LIQUID VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 26 I, fiwxlflfe s.

If v A 77085 Patented May 15, 1923.

res

ram 0. Burns, or KANSAS CITY, rnssooar.

LIQUID-VENDING CHINE.

Application filed November 25, 1921. Serial No. 517,448.

able others skilled in the art to vhich it ap pertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to thefigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part-of thisspecification.

This invention relates to liquid dispensing mechanism and it isparticularly adapt- -ed for dispensing gasoline and the like, theprimary object being to provide means whereby the dispensing apparatuswill become efiective upon the introduction of a check, coin or token ofappropriate denominationinto the machine.

The mechanism is such that it operates as a coin-controlled mechanismalthough the coin control chute and its complementary parts so far asthe present! invention is concerned is not an important feature.

The specific construction of the device selected for illustration willbe apparent by reference to the following description in connection withthe accompanying drawings,'in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of adispensing apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, partsbeing broken away to show the interior construction thereof. Fig.2 is avertical, longitudinal, sectional view through the base casing, one ofthe dispensing tanks, the pump or supplying it, dand means forcontrolling the pump,

3 'is a detailview of the float-actuated, contact-carrying stem. I

The hollow base 1 supports a dispensing reservoir 2, adapted to besupplied with the liquid from a suitable source, (notshown). The sourcemay consist 'of a tank or reser voir embedded in the ground'and adaptedto communicate with an intake pipe 3, communicating with a pump 4,discharging through a pipej5 into the top of the reservoir 2. Theimpeller for the pump 4 may be connected to the drive shaft of a motor 6supplied with current from a main service line consisting of theconductors 7 and 8, 5 which is tapped in a switch box 9 connected to themotor through the conductors 10 and 11. The switch box is provided witha reversing switch, as will be well understood,

and it is adapted to be operated by a circuit I energized by certaincontacts in response to a float within the reservoir 2. For example, onthe stem 12 projecting through the stufling box 13 in the top of thereservoir 2 and within the contact casing 14 is a float 15, movable inresponse to variations of the oil level within the reservoir 2. Thefioatstem carries one contact 16, which is adjustable and adapted to bereceived in the notched portions 17 18 and 19 so that it will operate atvarious levels of oil in the reservoir 2.

The switch controlling-circuit consists of a conductor 20 in series witha battery '21. One end of the conductor is connected to the switch box 9and the other end to the live contact 16. At the upper end of the casing14 is a contact 22 connected to a conductor 23, also connected to'theswitch box so' that when the" live contact 16 abuts 8 against contact22, the switch will be operated to cut out the-circuit for the motor 6.When the live contact 16 rests on the lower contact 24, connected to theconductor 25 leading into the box 9, the motor will be en- 8 er ized.

hen the motor is energized, it will operate the pump-4 and pump oil intothe reservoir until the level reaches the point at which the contact 16is set, at which time. the contact 16 will contact with the contact 22,reversing the switch so as to break the circuit and causin the pump tostop.

The oil or liquid wi remain .in the reservoir until it is released by.amanuall operated releasing mechanism, which will now proceed todescribe. i

The base 1 is divided into an upper comartment 26 and a,lowercompartment 27 'y a lateral floor or partition 28. There is 1 I a pullbar 29 for each reservoir having a hand hold or knob 30 on its endextending through the front wall of the base, and the opposite end isprovided with a lateral projection or hooked end 31, which overlaps acomplementary hooked end 32 on a valveactuating rack bar 33. Thevalve-actuating rack bar has its upper-edge 34 meshing at all times withthe teeth 35 of the pinion 36 on the valve stem 37 to operate the valvein the discharge pipe 38 in the bottom of the reservoir 2 andcommunicating with the nozzle 39 adapted to be introduced into thefiller tube of the motor vehicle receptacle to be vfilled.

Above the bars 29 and 33 is a coin chute 40, through which a coin, checkor token may be introduced to drop in the space between the hooked end31 and the hooked end 32, constituting a connector between said bars 29and 33. When the coin drops between the bars, it will connect them sothat when the pull bar is moved outwardly, it will impart movement tothe rack bar '33 and thereby open the valve on the valve stem 37 andallow the oil to discharge from the reservor 2 through pipe 38 andnozzle 39. When the rack bar 33 is moved forwardly, it will be held inthat position by a pivoted pawl 41, carried by the floor 28 and having arule joint connection 42 with a link 43 on the end of the eccentric bar44 actuated by the eccentric 45 on the end of the drive shaft of themotor 6. i

The rule joint will permit the pawl to give when the bar 33 is pulledoutwardly to open the valve for the discharge of the liquid but willengage one of the ratchet teeth 46 to.

a will be held in its outward position by the prevent a retrogrademovement which .the tension spring 47 may impart to it when it isunobstructed. The pawl will hold the bar out to keep the valve'openuntil the contents of the reservoir 2 is discharged. When it has beendischarged, the contact 16 will be resting on 24 so that the switch inthe switch box 9 will close the circuit between the service line and themotor and cause the cam 45 to impart an oscillatory movement tothe bar44 and to move the toe of the pawl out of engagement with the ratchetand permit.

pawl so that the valvein pipe 38 can remain open. I I The mechanismdescribed is for but one of the reservoirs 2 and its complementaryfeeding and discharging mechanism, it being obvious that duplicatereservoirs 49 and 50 will be operated by identically the same mechanismexcept that all of the reservoirs in any bank can be connected up to thedischarge pipe 38. The pumpi mechanism,v

- other without waiting for a refilling of the reservoir which has justbeen exhausted and instead of connecting all of the reservoirs to v asingle discharge pipe38, single discharge pipes can be provided ifdesired, so that more than one consumer can be supplied with gasoline atthe same time.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A fluid dispensing device comprising a reservoir, means forintroducing fluid into the reservoir, a discharge pipe leading from thebottom of the reservoir, a valve in the pipe having a stem provided witha pinion, a spring-re-tractible rack bar engageable with said pinion,means for operating the rack bar in opposition to the spring, a pawl tonormally hold the rack in extended position, and means for mov'ingthepawl out of engagement with the rack.

2. A fluid dispensing device comprising a reservoir, means forintroducing fluid into the reservoir, a discharge pipe leading from thebottom of the reservoir, a valve 'in the pipe having a stem providedwith a pinion, a spring-retractible rack bar engageable with saidpinion, means for operating the rackbar in opposition to the spring, apawl to normally, hold the rack in extended position,

and motor-actuated means for moving the pawl out of engagement with therack.

3. A fluid dispensing device comprising a reservoir, a motor-actuatedpump for sup plying the reservoir withliquid, a pipe leading from thebottom of the -reservoir, a valve in the pipe having a stem providedwith a .pinion, a spring-retractible rack meshing with the pinion, thespring being normally eflective'to hold the rack 1n aretracted positionto maintain the valve closed, means for moving. the valve against theaction of the spring, a pawl for holding the rack in its non-retractedposition, means for actuating the pawl connected to the'motor, and meanswithin thev reservoir for causing the motor, to operate when the meansis-in one position and to cause the motor to cease operating when themeans is in the opposite position.

4. A fluid dispensing device comprising areservoir, a pipe leadingtherefrom, a rack, a valve in the pipe'having a pinion meshing with therack, a spring for moving. the rack in one position, an actuator formoving the rack in the opposite position, a pawl normally engaged by therack, the pawl having ajoint whereby the rack may tilt the pawl when itis slid in one direction and whereby the pawl will actively engage therack to hold it against movement in an opposite direction, and means foractuating the pawl to release the rack.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANK o. BATES.

